Russia Seeks to Install a Military Base in Coastal Venezuela

Russian President Vladimir Putin is allegedly eyeing the island of La Orchila, in waters north of Caracas, to launch a Russian military base.

Shamil Gareyev, a military expert and Russian colonel, told the newspaper that it is the correct strategy to include Venezuela in long-range aviation missions. "Previously, our strategic bombers would have had to return to Russia every time, but now they will also not need to carry out aerial refueling on patrol mission in the Americas. Our Tu-160 aircraft will arrive at their base in Venezuela, take flight, execute their missions, and then be replaced on a rotating basis. This is how it should be done," he suggested.

Colombia: ELN Marxist Guerrilla Group Announces Year End Truce

The ELN Marxist guerrilla group has announced a year end truce, and has called for Colombian President Ivan Duque to return to the negotiation table in Havana.

According to the ELN, this decision is at the behest of the communities in the countryside, social movements, and various sectors of the country that are interested in peace. "We are announcing a cessation of offensive operations from December 23, 2018 to January 3, 2019, to contribute to a climate of peace and tranquility for Christmas and the New Year," the document reads.

German reporter Billy Six is being held at the notorious Heliocoide prison on espionage charges.

Six entered the country legally, but was denied the press credentials necessary to work in Venezuela. During a sweep of a nightclub in the coastal town of Punto Fijo, police conducted a security sweep. As Six did not have his passport on hand, officers led him to his hotel to find it. The next day, his room was raided by a security team consisting of 15 officers, and he was jailed in Caracas's notorious Helicoide prison, which also contains the headquarters of Venezuela's intelligence service, the SEBIN.

Bolsonaro and Macri Off to a Rocky Start with Brazilian-Argentine Relations

Mercosur issues will loom large in the relationship between Bolsonaro and Macri, who has decided not to attend the new Brazilian president's inauguration.

Jair Bolsonaro will soon be inaugurated as the next president of Brazil. Mauricio Macri's first term is winding down, but it is still possible that he will stay on for another four year reelection period. What is known, is that the relationship between the two presidents, who will at least overlap for 11 months, did not start off on the right foot.

Bolsonaro Rejects Slavery by Cuban Doctors, AMLO Approves It

Bolsonaro has refused to allow Cuban medical doctors to work in Brazil for slave wages, while the Cuban dictatorship keeps the vast part of their earnings.

Slavery is the word used by the president-elect, Jair Bolsonaro, to describe the working conditions of Cuban doctors in Brazil, given that the Cuban state keeps more than 75% of their salary. In response, the Cuban government, indignant, ordered the repatriation of the 11,000 doctors, of whom 3,000 will end up in Mexico.

French Citizens Want Cheaper Energy, not Global Warming Elitism

French President Emmanuel Macron pursues his global warming agenda at his own political peril.

Diesel moves France. Whereas in the United States, diesel is increasingly a rarity, used mainly to fuel heavy trucks, drivers in France and much of Europe, have diesel cars. In past generations, diesel was believed to be more environmentally friendly. It turns out, today, that that is not the case. Diesel is actually far worse for the environment that traditional gasoline.

Mexico: Maduro Allegedly Requested Asylum for Top Chavista Officials

During Nicolas Maduro's controversial recent visit to Mexico for the Lopez Obrador inauguration, he allegedly requested consideration of future asylum requests for top Chavista officials.

"In the private reception he had with López Obrador, the Venezuelan president invited AMLO to his second inauguration in January 10 in Caracas. But, according to sources that ABC has had access to, he also took advantage of the meeting to bring up the possibility that the new Mexican government might grant asylum to senior Venezuelan officials and their families, in the event that the Chavez regime has to leave power after January 10," the newspaper said.

Chinese companies paid millions of dollars in bribes in order to win large scale contracts in Venezuela's infrastructure and energy sectors.

As if the corruption scandals of the Venezuelan regime that have come to light in recent days were not enough, the Spanish newspaper El País has revealed yet another scandal. During the presidency of the late Hugo Chávez Frías, companies from the People's Republic of China paid USD $200 million in bribes to obtain contracts in the South American country.

Colombia: Controversy over Documentary that Describes Uribe as "Enemy of Peace"

A new documentary called "The Negotiation" has stirred up controversy over its depiction of former president Alvaro Uribe.

The premiere of the documentary "The Negotiation" has caused considerably controversy in Colombia politics, with Alvaro Uribe, former president and current senator of the Centro Democratico party, accusing the documentary of distorting the truth for describing him as an "enemy of the peace" during the negotiation process.

Like in Cuba: Maduro's New Plan to Dollarize Tourism and Discriminate against Venezuelans

Maduro's bold new plan for the Venezuelan tourism industry: charge for all transactions in dollars.

Taking inspiration from Cuba, Nicolás Maduro has recently decided that tourism will now only be only for foreigners or for "well off" Venezuelans, since he announced that the regime will charge in foreign currencies and cryptocurrencies for tourist services in some "economic zones."